2016 Advent Resource
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1 Introduction Although the rest of the world will celebrate the the themes and purposes of the Advent Season. Lent is start of the New Year on January 1st, the Christian year traditionally the time that many Christians and churches begins on the first day of Advent. This year, the first day spend time fasting and focusing on prayer and “getting of Advent is Sunday, November 27th. As you and your right with God.” However, Advent should also be a time family eat the leftovers from your Thanksgiving dinner, of penitence, prayer, and realignment with the will and remember to tell one another Happy New Year, because word of God. I challenge you to use the next forty days our new year, new day starts more than a month before to prepare your hearts to celebrate Jesus’ first coming the rest of the world. through Mary’s womb and look towards his soon The word “advent” is derived from the Latin word coming return. adventus, which means “coming” or “visit.” The Advent Use this devotional as a guide to help you to Season begins four Sundays before Christmas and ends remember the true meaning of Christmas and why God on Christmas Eve. During the Advent Season we look wrapped himself in flesh and came to earth in the person back and forward at the same time. During this season of Jesus. Jesus did not come for us to have toys, money, our focus as Christians is two-fold: we look back in clothing and food on Christmas Day. No, Jesus came remembrance of the first coming of Christ as a baby to bring us Christmas gifts that will never break--hope, named Jesus, born in a manager and we also anticipate peace, joy and love. All of these gifts can be found as we the second coming of Christ to earth, which will walk intimately with Jesus, experiencing life with him as consummate his eternal kingdom. Just as Israel longed our personal Lord and Savior. Walking with Jesus is not for the Messiah to come, Christians also long for their an easy walk. Jesus calls us to love like he loved, to live precious Savior to return. like he lived, and to obey his commands. That is exactly Each of the four Sundays has been given a thematic what this daily devotional will do—it will challenge you. focus to help us remember the first coming and to expect As you use this devotional, be sure to read each of the second. These days are hope, peace, joy and love. the scriptures for the day prior to reading the daily Why these particular themes? Hope, peace, joy, and love meditation. The meditation focuses on one of the daily are the gifts that Jesus came into the world to bring us scriptures and exists to challenge you to mature in Christ during his first coming. These gifts were made manifest and become all that God has created and called you to during his 33 years on the earth, and they remained with be. Read each scripture and meditation with the spirit us when Jesus ascended to heaven and sent his precious of expectation that Jesus will, in fact, fulfill his promise Holy Spirit to remain with us as we await his return. given in John 14:1-3; Christ will return again to take us Celebrating the Advent Season is also a time to to be with him and his Father in paradise. study both Old and New Testament scriptures. These scriptures lead us to center our hearts and minds on About the Author The Reverend Leah D. Jackson, Esq. was born and She has the distinction of serving as both a member raised in Detroit, Michigan. She was ordained in the of the Board of Visitors for McAfee School of Theology Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) by Ray of Hope and a member of the Board of Advisors for Set Free Christian Church in Decatur, Georgia, where she Evangelistic Ministries. She is also a member of the currently serves as the Minister of Christian Education. Editorial Board for Just Women Magazine. Leah also She is also a licensed member of the served as a member of the committee for the 2014 State Bar of Georgia and specializes in Quadrennial Assembly, which was held in Atlanta, Technology and Intellectual Property Georgia. law. Leah has been called to minister the word of God as She is the proud author of the a preacher, pastor, educator, and dancer. She has been devotional, Daily Manna from the dancing since the age of four and involved in dance Psalms: Nuggets of Hope for the ministry since she was saved at age twelve. Leah is the Hungry Christian. She was licensed founder of Agape Seed Liturgical Dance Company, as a Minister of Dance in 2008 by Dr. a group of individuals from various ministries and Pamela Hardy, the founder and leader churches seeking God’s heart through worship. of Set Free Evangelistic Ministries. Leah served as the advisor for the Spelman College Dance Ministry, Movements of Praise, for 5 years. Leah received a Bachelor of Arts in Public Policy with a focus in Child Advocacy from Spelman College in 2002; a Juris Doctor from Walter F. Georgia School of Law in 2005; and Master of Divinity from McAfee School of Theology in 2012. 2 Daily Advent Readings 2016 Year (NIV Bible) First Sunday of Advent (November 27) Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Isaiah 2:1-5 Psalm 124 Psalm 124 Psalm 124 Psalm Psalm Psalm 72:1-7, 18-19 72:1-7, 18-19 72:1-7, 18-19 Psalm 122 Genesis 8:1-19 Genesis 9:1-17 Isaiah 54:1-10 Isaiah 4:2-6 Isaiah 30:19-26 Isaiah 40:1-11 Romans Romans 6:1-11 Hebrews Matthew Acts Acts 13:16-25 John 1:19-28 13:11-14 11:32-40 24:23-35 1:12-17, 21-26 Matthew 24:36-44 Second Sunday of Advent (December 4) Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Isaiah 11:1-10 Psalm 21 Psalm 21 Psalm 21 Psalm 146:5-10 Psalm 146:5-10 Psalm 146:5-10 Psalm 72:1-7, Isaiah Isaiah 41:14-20 Genesis Ruth 1:6-18 Ruth 4:13-17 1 Samuel 2:1-8 18-19 24:1-16a 15:1-18 Romans 1 Thessalo- Romans Matthew 2 Peter 3:1-10 2 Peter 3:11-18 Luke 3:1-18 15:4-13 nians 4:1-12 15:14-21 12:33-37 Matthew 3:1-12 Third Sunday of Advent (December 11) Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Isaiah 35:1-10 Psalm 42 Psalm 42 Psalm 42 Psalm Psalm Psalm 80:1-7, 17-19 80:1-7, 17-19 80:1-7, 17-19 Psalm Isaiah 29:17-24 Ezekiel 47:1-12 Zechariah 2 Samuel 2 Samuel 2 Samuel 146:5-10; or 8:1-17 7:1-17 7:18-22 7:23-29 Luke 1:46b-55 James 5:7-10 Acts 5:12-16 Jude 17-25 Matthew Galatians Galatians 4:1-7 John 3:31-36 8:14-17, 28-34 3:23-29 Matthew 11:2-11 Fourth Sunday of Advent (December 18) Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Christmas Eve Christmas Isaiah 7:10-16 1 Samuel 1 Samuel 1 Samuel Luke 1:46b-55 Luke 1:46b-55 Isaiah 52:7-10 2:1-10 2:1-10 2:1-10 Psalm Genesis Genesis Genesis Isaiah 33:17-22 2 Samuel Psalm 98 80:1-7, 17-19 17:15-22 21:1-21 37:2-11 7:18, 23-29 Romans 1:1-7 Galatians Galatians Matthew Revelation Galatians Hebrews 4:8-20 4:21-5:1 1:1-17 22:6-7, 18-20 3:6-14 1:1-4, (5-12) Matthew John 1:1-14 1:18-25 3 Daily Meditations Sunday – November 27, 2016 of a specific period of time—the have swept over us, 5 the raging coming of the Messiah and resulting waters would have swept us away. 6 1 This is what Isaiah son of Amoz establishment of the Kingdom of Praise be to the Lord, who has not let saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem: God. us be torn by their teeth. 7 We have 2 In the last days the mountain of Fixing his eyes on the last days escaped like a bird from the fowler’s filled the prophet Isaiah with hope the Lord’s temple will be established snare; the snare has been broken, and and great anticipation, because Jews as the highest of the mountains; it we have escaped. 8 Our help is in the will be exalted above the hills, and and Gentiles would worship the Lord at the temple in his holy city. The last name of the Lord, the Maker of heaven all nations will stream to it. 3 Many and earth. peoples will come and say, “Come, days would be days of peace between let us go up to the mountain of the people who had been divided by Psalm 124 hatred and bloodshed; together they Lord, to the temple of the God of Psalm 124 is a praise song from the would worship the one true and people of Israel to God for delivering Jacob. He will teach us his ways, so living God. What great news that is! them from their enemies. The people that we may walk in his paths.” The Isaiah did not know when are clear that deliverance from hurt, law will go out from Zion, the word the last days would come, but he harm and danger could have only of the Lord from Jerusalem.